Heat-exchanging apparatus



Feb. 17. 1925.

P. MATHER HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. MATHER HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS Feb. l17, 1925.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1922 PBS..

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l P. MATHER HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS Filed Jan.; 4, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventar y. win/#5w ttor-neg.

AFeb. 17. 1925.

o o Q HEAT EXCHANGING AIFATKATUS P. MATHER Filed Jam. 4, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 O O O O OO v Inventor .ltorney Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UN ITD STAT ES PERGY HEATHER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND..

HEAT-EXCHANGING APPARATUS.

' AppIeation led January 4, 1922. Serial No. 5271024.

T all '107mm it may concern.'

kBe it knownV that I, Pintor Murrina, a subject ot the King 01"Great Bri-tain and Ireland,l residing at 23 `(Srreat VVinchester 5 Street, London, E. C., England, have invented certain new vand useful* HeauEX- changing Apparatus, otA which the following is a specification.

rthis invention relates to pre-heaters, heat exchangers, condensers andthe like and has among. its objects toprovide an apparatus ot standard units and of a convenient construction adapted torthe effectivel utilization otthe. residual heat of liuids, such as the hot residue ot'tlie distillation ot crude mineral yoil and the". hot vapours evolved in its fractional distillation'.

Theapparatus of the invention is especially conceived in relation to the method which is the subject mettercia co-pending appl-ication Serial No.v 526,900 dated January il,

19% according to which' crude oil before admission for` fractional distillationA in the stilil is preheated?, andthe heat ot the hot still vapours and ofthe hot liquid residue of distillation isl used torthis purpose, under conditionsin which there is an effective exchange .of-heat and in- Which light fractions are recovered Ltrom. the crude oil, and condensates recovered" from the still vapours. `According to the invention the preheaters,v heat exchangers, condensers or' the like (hereinafter referred to as heat exchangers) are provi-ded with nests of evaporator tubesl comprising `vertical series of evaporator tube sets that are horizontally disposed and so connected to vertical columns or headers that the heat yieldingflui'ds may Vcircu-l-:rte through the tube sets as in a coil..

The invention comprises the constructional Vtentures which are'herein'atter described.

The invention isl illustrated-in the accomp anyi ng drawings in Which- Figure l Arepresents an elevation ot aheat exchanger constructed according toy the inve tion,` the casing being shown-in section.

Figure 2 is sectional pla-1r view on". `the line Q-Q-o' ligurel 3.

y Figurev is a sectionv on the line of AFigure 2. Y

Figure 42 is a' section on the line of residue from the still..

Figure 6 through one of the liezrdcrsdon the right hand side of Figures l andi 2.

Figure 5 is a detail' sideelevati'on on al larger scale showing'oneoit the lieaders Lon the lettwlrand side ot' Figures l and; 2, whiilc Figure is a similaridetail: siielfe-relevation showing one et the-headers cnrthe right hand side thereof.

In carrying the imYention-iarto effect according tc the illustrated' construction, tou-r units or nests l, 3; il, ot' evaporatortubes are constructed as hereinlielore described, andare disposed in ceasing" o. lthesernests are provided Jfor carrying ont the method ci pre-heating crude mineral oil or other liquids asdescribed' in'. the specification ot the cowpending application; fiustfmenti'oned, and tor thispurpose the tiro louei'rnests 3 and 4 are provided 'for `the circulation oi hot vapour, while the: twoi upper nests l and Q are provided-tor the circulation ot `the hot Eaclr of the nests l, 2, 3, is constructed oi two vertical series oi. evaporator tube i sets oft the torni de scribedin the speciiliczrti'on c'lthe further copending application -reterredotoi each: tube set comprising, inthel illustrated construction, four longitudinali tubesV la connected to, and. communicating at their' respective ends with. a transversely disposed tube c oi larger diameter than thelongitudinal tubes.Y @ne lend` oity each of the `transverse tubes c is closed, While the other. which is open, is flared outu'ardli)1 and is adapted Jtor the retention ot a loose: connecting flange c1, by means of which the respective transverse tubes may be connected by tour bolts, on

one of the paralleldisposed lateral faces of` which are adapted for the reception ot the` bases ofi the respective header-'si `Two separate carrying frames are provided tor the nests l and 3, andV 2 and: Ll-respectrvely. The

frame members f1 are supported at their respective ends by sets of wheels c1, mounted to run on rails g laid in the bottom of the casing. One side al of the casing is adapted to beremoved for the purpose of 4withdrawal of the respective nests of tubes, after the pige connections have been unfastened.

ets of diagonal braces r advantageously formed of bars of an angular cross section are dprovided between the respective yheaders d, 1 and d2, d3 to ensure rigidity of construction; and the outer ends of certain of the transverse tubes c are secured to the frame by means of metal loops s connected to the frame members by means of nuts.

It will be understood that the evaporator tubes c are horizontally disposed and that the longitudinal tubes b of the respective sets are parallel and the corresponding tubes of the respective sets are disposed in vertical line. Thus the respective pairs of vertically disposed columns or headers d, d1 and d2, als support between them two vertical series of turbe sets b, c, the respective series .being connected to the columns or headers on opposite and parallel disposed faces.

With a view to economize space and to ensure comp-actness, the alternate sets ot evaporator tubes b, c in each one of the vertical series of such sets are so positioned that their respective transversely disposed tubes ff, at each end o the tube sets, form two separate vertical series at such a distance apart that the respective transversely disposed tubes c of each vertical series of such tubes on the same side of the column or header, may be brought a Yslight distance one aibove the other, so that thus the adjacent tube sets b, c are closely disposed together, whereby a considerable area of evaporating surface is presented within .a relatively small space. It will be understood that by such an arrangement the transversely disposed tube c at o-ne end of each set olf-tubes is positioned in the outermost vvertical series of transverse tubes at one side of the casing and the tube c at the other end of each set of tubes in the innermost series at the opposite side, so that thus ,all the longitudinal tubes and tube sets may be provided of the same standard length. By such means identical nests or units are provided, each comprising two vertical columns or headers disposed at opposite sides ot the casing Jfor the suipport between them of two vertical series of evaporator tube sets b, c which form a circuit for the hot fluid in the manner before described.

The vertically disposed columns or head- -v ers d, (Z1, d2 and d3 are closed at their respective upper and lower ends. The headers may be provided common tothe super- /posednests' o i tulbes or those for each nest may lbe separately provided. In the illustrated construction, at one side of the heat exchanger one common header 0l or d2 is advantageously provided for the nests l and 3, or 2 and Li, and in the headers Z and d2 transverse partitions z, are provided to form a vertical series of inclined passages or coinpartments for the passage of the hot fluid, such as the hot still vapours or the hot liquid residue, from one set of longitudinal tubes in one plane upon one side ot the nest, to the next in the series in another or higher plane, on the other side of the nest, the arrangement being such that on the hot fluid passing in separate streams through the longitudinal tubes b of one tube set, it then passes into the common transverse tube c atlthe end, thence into the inclined compartment or passage in the header l or d2, into the transversely, disposed tube. c of a tube set on the opposite side of the column or header and in another or higher plane,V the hot iiuid then vreturning in an opposite y direction across the casing and thence into the transverse tube c at the opposite end ot the tube set, thence through the adjacent vertically disposed column or header all or da at the opposite end of the casing, passing thence into an oppositely disposed transverse tube c of another longitudinal tube set disposed in the same plane as that last traversed, through which it again returns across the. casing and so on, the hot fluid circulating as ina coil and passing through the whole circuit of connected tube sets l?, c of each nest.

lt will be understood that the upper part oi' the headers d, d2 form part of the nests l and 2 while the lower part of the headers d, (Z2 form part of the nests 3 and 4 respectively, and that the headers d, (Z2 `are both 105 provided in theirV opposite parallel side walls with two vertical series ot holes dl, d8, (Figure for the reception ot the transverse tubes c of the two vertical series provided as here-inbefore described. The head- 110 ers Z1 and d3 are, however, advantageously provided in twoseparate upper and lower parts as illustrated in Figures 3, and 6, the respective parts being advantageously bolted or connected together at opposite 115 sides to form an integral column by means of bolts passing through the outwardlyextending Hanges provided for thepurpose. The upper parts of the headers Z1 and Z3 are provided with horizontal partitions h1 (Fig- 120 ure 4) which form a vertical series of separate compartments or passages. ln the respective oppositely disposed side walls of each of the headers Z1 and cl3, two vertical series of holes Z5 d (Figure 6) are provided 125 for the reception of the respective transverse tubes c of the twofvertical series provided as hereinbefore described. The arrangemnt of the holes d5, Z6 at each side is such that they each open out into the 13o respective 'compartments Iformed fby 'the horizontal partit-ions 'h1 and each alterna-te hole 'on the "sa-me side 'is'disp'osed on vdistinct A"terticlal flines` as is the ease with the holes 'd1 and d8, but'the holes o1 the series d5, d that open out finto any'one compartment are disposed on different vertical lines. Thus each transverse tube c on one vIside of the header 51er d5 is 'disposed in position opposite to blankpart of the opposite side "tf-all, `iifhifle the hole p'rovided for the reception 'ofthe transyerse tube o atthe oplposite'side is also oppositely disposed to a hla'nkpart ofthe Wall. Inthe construction illustrated, the nests l afnd 2 are intended for the 'passage throughfthein of the hot residue l'from 'the still. Thus each compart- 'rnei'it tei-ined by thepartitions h1 in the upper part ot' the header Z1-'or (Z3 serres for "the conveyance ot' vthe hot residue troni one transverse tube c on one side of the upper part-oftliehe'ader d1 or `lato another transverse tube coutof vertical alignment with it 'on the'iother side.

The hotresidue is adtnitted into 'the nest .l or LQthrough a branch of the residue niain. co'iineeted with'the 'inlet pipe fitting y' which is connected to an elbow pipe fitting 'inountedgnear the bottom of the upper part thefcolurnn or headerd1or d?, whereby the hot residue passes `into the Jlowerinost rempart-nient of the upper part of the head-- or Z1 "or da thence into 'the transverse Vtube cieli' 'the evaporator tube set at the opposite side 'ot' the header, the residue then passing "tothe opposite header Z1 or (Z2 and thence into one of the compartments there- `in forin'etl "by the inclined Walls "as het'ore described. The residue thus ipasses up- Lwardly"and VVsuccessirely through tube sets disposed at a higher level, the hot residue thus 'circulating to 'and fro along the tube sets and through the compartments in the respective headers, until it reaches the uppermost compartment ottheheader (Z1 or d "whence it passes outwardly through the elbow "fitting 701'andthroughtheresidue outlet pipefitting j1 to return tothe residue inain.

The respective nests 3 and 4 disposed beneath the "nests l and Q'are provided tor the`p`as`sage therethrough ot hot vapour from Athe Istill and inasmuch as the hot `vapour substantially reduced in temperature and ypartially condensed in 'passing' through these nests, it is necessary to provideineaus for draining the condensate as before described. The lowergpart ot' the headers d, Z2 forni 4part ot the nests 3 and a and 4are 'provided in the 'lower part as well as in `the upper part With inclinedcoinpartyments orpassages for the purpose'described` Vly lformed in the lower part of the header 'tubular part 72. adapted for reception within a centrally `disposed cup /'r1,-an interxi'al `hein; `*allowed between the `upper 'edge oit thecup if, and the partit-ion z.'2 and between the lower end ot the tubular part /zt'and the bottom of thecup fr", as well as between the bottoni ot the cup r" and the partition 7:2 next beneath itu-so that thus on the condensate troni the eraporatortubes passing -into the :"espectire compartments Ain theilower end of the header (Z1 or d", `it `tlows down the tubular part 71." of -the partition h1 `troni onecoinpartinent into thecup hf disposed `in that next'bencath it.

lt will he understood that the condensate may then `tlowlorer `the upper edfeof the cup r" luto that compart- 'nient and thence pass i-n the same way beneath the cup /r'l throughfthe itubular `part 71,* ot the partition it? next beneath. Thus the condensate 'from "the `respectivetube sets `passes trom compartment to 'compartment'L in the lower part ot the `header d1 or d and ray discharge through the outlet pipe 7a..

(l 1 igure l2) vAdvantageously the cups r" `inay be provided with lupwardluv Land downwardly protrudingparts or extcnsionsserviug as means by "which the cups may be concentrically held' around 1the downwardly protruding' kparts 'r of the partitions, to rest lupon the partitions beneath them and to #support the l partitions above thern. 0r instead the partitions h2 inay be `provided with such exten- Vsionsyor separate interposed distance pieces inay be provided `for lthe saine purpose. These protrudingl parts may be so lorined with recesses or interruptions to inaintain access `for the liquid fronithe coinpartnient to the tubular `outlet Vpart ot the partition to permit the overflow into the coinpartinent troni the respective cups.

It will thus be understood that the drainingl of the respective tube sets and conipartvments ot the headers is elleeted under conditions that ensure the circulation ot the vapours and `prevent al gas lock.

lt willbe also understood thatthe course ot the hot vapour through the respective `nests 3 and 4 is the saine as the-courseot the hot residue through the nests land 2,

'the vapour being admitted to the respec-` tive nests from branchesot the respective vapour outlet pipe Ylroni tliestill,-con1iected 1n each case to the inlet pipe fitting n connected to an elbow fitting n1 mounted,

near the bottoni et' the lower` part of the column or header d1 or d3. The hot vapour circulates through the` respective connected tubesets rising upwardly at each complete circuit, vthe proportion not condensed and gas being discharged at the opposite end of the nest from the header CZ or d2 through the elbow fitting 11.2 whence it passes through the vapour outlet fitting n3 and thence to theV condenser.

Y inlet pipe fitting t2 at the respective sides of the casing, so that thus the crude mineral oil is admitted vto the spraying pipes t from both sides of the casing and passes through the common transverse pipes l to the respective sets of longitudinal spraying pipes. The longitudinal spraying pipes are provided at intervals with outlet holes t3 Vwhich are uniformly'spaced apart in line at the top of the pipes and similar holes may be provided in the transversely disposed pipes 251. rThus the crude oil flows over the spraying pipes and uniformly drips on to the evaporator tubes disposed beneath them, falling to the bottom of the casing whencevit drains off through sealed outlets, while the uncondensed vapour leaves through an outlet fitting at provided on the side wall of the casing.

Means are advantageously provided to ensure the uniform dripping of the crude oil upon the evaporator tubes. In the illustrated construction vertically disposed curtain plates t4 are mounted in line immediately beneath the longitudinal spraying pipes t and these lcurtains are conveniently carried by means of symmetrical clamping plates t5 which are clamped upon the longitudinal pipes t. The curtain plates t4 are advantageously provided in two or more p-arts as indicated and at their lower edges are serratedand, with a view to ensure the dripping of the oil in line immediately over the evaporator tubes of the uppermost set7 their lower edges are conveniently tied to these evaporator tubes by means of wire as illustrated in Figures l and 3. Similar cur` tain plates t4 may be provided between the,

nests where intervals occur between nest and nest as between the nests 2 and 4 (Figure Y It will be understood that the nests should be properly set to ensure the uniform dripping of oil throughout the vertical `series of evaporator tubes and that the spraying pipes should be set and maintained level; For this purpose the spraying pipes are supported at the middle of each transverse pipe t1 upon the top of the respective headers d, d1, d2, cl3, by means of an adjustable support t6 mounted on the top of the respective. headers and provided with a. recess adapted for the reception of the junction of the transverse pipes t1 and the outwardly extending inlet fitting t2', while at each end of each tran-sverse pipe t1 an angle plate t7 is secured to the frame members c and adapted to carry an adjusting stud ts to bear. upon the said pipe t1. There is thus an angle plate t7 at each corner of each set of spraying pipes t so that thus any desired adjustment can be effected to maintain the connected sets of spraying pipes level.

It will be further understood that any other means for ensuring the uniform dripping of the crude oil over the evaporator tubes may be employed. Y

4It will be understood that the casing a is not provided with any external lagging or heat non-conductor so that condensation of the vapours derived from the crude oil may be facilitated under suitable atmospheric conditions, but the casing may be partially lagged or a heat non-conductor provided in order to retard condensation in the casing, and similarly under any conditions requiring it, cooling water may be caused to drip over the casing or any other known means employed for ensuring the required temperature conditions within the casing.

The bottom or any part of the casing may be heat insulated. An inner cover plate or roof u may be mounted within the casing a and in position above the nests of evaporator tubes and abo-ve the spraying or dripping pipes. The inner cover plate may be suitably sus ended, as indicated, from the top plate o the casing and may have a slightly curved or arch form to permit of the condensedvapour from the crude oil dripping from it and flowing over its ed-ge near the side walls of the casing, and this inner cover plate may be formed from corrugated sheet metal. Furthermore the respective nests may be surrounded by inner metal side walls or plates v which may also be of a corrugated form. These metal side walls orplates o may be suspended from the bars ff of the frame and they may be carried from these bars by means of hook shaped lugs 02j The metal side walls or plates zi may have spaces. provided between their adjacentl vertical edges and between their `upper edges and the 'inner cover plate u, so that they do not completely enclose the space in which the nests are mounted. Furthermore the metal side' wallsor plates o are so `providedthat in positions beneaththe Vinletfittings of the sprayingV pipes for the crude oil and the residue'f'andl vapour" inlet and' outlet ttings, the upper edge of the wall or plate is diverged outwardly as at v3 so that any liquid at the joints may drain into the Abottoni of the'casing. 0n each wallof the casing near thebottom, gutters/i0, w, w1, 202, are provided for' the reception of the condensed vapour from the. inner cover plate u and fromthe side walls'or plates u which are'outwardly diverted for the purpose* at et. The gutters are so disposed that the end of the gutter w1 at one endis disposed abovev the level of thefg'utters''w, fw at the sides,` andthe gutter wat'the opposite end is disposed beneath the ends of thel gutters ce, w so that thus the condensate mayy flow from gutter to gutter, the disposition o1' inclination of theV respective gutters being such as to causethe flow"of1tlie condensate so that it passes tothe lowerinostY point'of the gutterut where a receptacle w3 is provided, in which, a liquid seal 'against the escape of vapours, is "maintained, and whence the Icondensate"may run oil.

In the bottom the' casing steanipipesc are laid and Ythese pipes may bei'provided at theltopl with "a rseries of perforations. The branclies'of thesteam pipes may extend-immediately bene'atl-i each series of evaporator-'tube sets as illustrated in Fig ure 2 so thatfthus the crude oil may be vaporized in the presence of steam, `orfany other suitable'uidmedium for the saine purpose. 1

`The liquid residue may bel supplied to the respective Vheat exchangers when provided in vertical seri-"es through-ani upwardly extending 'main or supply pipe from which branches may vextendto vthe inletand outlet respective'l-yf each nest, and controlling valves may be provided for controllirrgthe amount of theresifdu'e admitted to particular heat exchangers ofthe series, as described, in, th,;spe'c'ificitionfiled on `the cop`endin`g application first mentioned.

The respective inlet and outlet pipe fittings for the residue and vapour andcrude oil may be adapted for ready disconnection by having their ends screwed within the corresponding fittings connected to the respective headers or to the spraying pipes 151 so that thus when it is desired to remove the nests for cleaning or repair, it is only necessary to remove the packing from the glands, to disconnect the respective pipes and to unscrew the inlet and outlet pipe fittings referred to, whereupon itis possible to withdraw the respective nests by removing the side plate a1 and moving their frames along the rails provided for this purpose. On the removal of the side plate a1 the condensate outlet pipe 7L (Figure l) is accessiblciffor disconnection-= VThe sides et' the `casii1giiiiiy be lined with baked clay tiles or the likeI to minimize chemical reaction.

It is Obvious that the inventionmay be the Aheat"yielding fluid may circulate successi'vely through evaporator tube sets on opposites'ides of the nestas in a coil, substantially as described.

2. In a heat exchanger, a nestotevaporator tubes comprising ii'erticalseries ot evaporator tube sets, each tube set comprising anumbe'r of parallelhorizontally dif"- posed tubes, vertical columns atthe respecti've ends of' the said nest with which the said evaporator" tube-sets are connected, and means within' the saidfvertical columns successively toconwfev the heatyielding fluid from the plane of one of" the evaporator tube sets at one side of'th'e columns to that ot another evaporator tube set atthe other side, substantially asdescribedi f In a `heat exchanger, a nest of evap orator Vtubescomprisingvertical series of horizontally disposed evaporator tubel sets,

4columns ateach end of the nest to which the said' 'evaporator tube'sets are connected, means for successively conveying the heat yielding fluid from' the planeo-tone ofthe evaporator tube sets at -one side .of "the columns'to that of'anotl'ier evaporator tube set "at the other si de,and means for draining the said nest'. substantially as described.

4. In a heat exchanger, a nest of evaporator tubes comprising vertical series of horizontally disposed evaporator tube sets, columns at each end of the nest to which the said evaporator tube sets are connected, means for successively conveying the heat yielding fluid from the plane of one of the evaporator tube sets at one side of the columns to that of another evaporator tube set at the other side, and means for draining the said nest comprising partit-ions ii one of the columns forming compartment therein by which a gas seal is formed b' the condensate which flows downwardl from one of the said compartir nts to tl other, substantially as described.

5. Arheat exchanger provided With nests of evaporator tubes, each nest comprising vertical series of evaporator tube sets, each tube set comprising a number of parallel horizont-ally disposed tubes, vertical columns at the respective ends of each of said nests, means for conveying the heat yielding fluid from the plane of one ofthe evaporator tube sets at one side of the said columns to that of another evaporator tube set at the other side, andA sprayer pipes disposed above the said evaporator tubes, said sprayer pipes being composed of a number of parallel tubes disposed in alignment with the tubes of the evaporator tube sets, substantially as described.

6; A heat exchanger provided with nests of evapora-tor tubes, each nest comprising vertical series of evaporator tube sets, each tube set comprising a number of parallel horizontally disposed tubes, vertical columns at the respective ends of each of said nests, means vforconveying the heat yielding fluid from the plane of one of the evaporator tube sets at one side of the said columns to that ot another evaporator tube set at the other side, sprayer pipes disposed above the said evaporator tubes, said sprayer pipes being composedof a number of parallel tubes disposed nalignment with the tubes of the evaporator tube sets, and curtain plates by means ot which the liquid to be sprayed i's'distlibuted as a film'over the evaporator tubes, substantially as described.

7. A heat exchanger provided With nests of evaporator tubes, each nest comprising vertical series of evaporator 'tube sets, each tube set comprising a number of parallel horizontally disposed tubes, vertical columns at the respective endsY of each of vsaid nests, means for conveying the heat yielding Huid fromthe plane of one of the evaporator tube sets atone side of the said columns to that of another evaporator tube set atfthe other side, sprayer pipes disposed above the said evaporator tubes, said sprayer pipes being composed of a number of parallel tubes disposed in alignment with the tubes of the formed of horizontalA and parallel tubes,

columns to which the said evaporator tube sets are respectively connected at their ends,

means by Which the heat yielding fluid is successively conveyed from one of the evaporator tube sets at the one side of the columns to that of another evaporator tube set on the other side, and means by which the nests are adapted` for use ot' both the hot residue from the still as Well as the hot vapour, substantially as described,

Y 9. A heat exchanger provided with nets of evaporator' tubes comprising vertical series or' evaporator tube sets, an outer casing Within which the said nests are mounted,

inner plates or Walls Within the saidV casing and enclosing the said nests, and means for the reception of the condensate from the said inner plates or Walls, substantially as described.

l lO. A heat exchanger provided With nests l ot evaporator tubes i co-mprising vertical series of evaporator tube sets mounted between' vertical columns, a casing Within which the nests are mounted, removable.,-

frames Vupon which the said nests are earried, rails mounted in the bottom of the said casing and beneath the vsaid removable frames beneath and at the respective sides of the nest and in position transversely with respect to the evaporator tube sets therein, Wheels by which the removable frames are capable-of being supported and moved ou the said rails, inlet and outlet pipe fittingsv disposed laterally on the said casing adjacent the headers of the respective nests` and means for the disconnection ofthe said fittings from Without.

PERGY Marnier.. 

